Andrew Cuomo rules out 2020 presidential run: 5 things to know

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former "Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon held a debate Wednesday night ahead of the Sept. 13 Democratic primary. The testy exchange featured plenty of interruptions and insults, but yielded no knockout blows. (Aug. 29)
AP

HEMPSTEAD - Gov. Andrew Cuomo ruled out a run for president in 2020 in the opening minutes of his debate with Cynthia Nixon on Wednesday, leaving very little wiggle room for him to change his mind.

Cuomo, whose presidential ambitions have long been the source of speculation, said definitively he wouldn't run for 2020 — should he win re-election this November.

Here's what to know about his statement:

1) It was fairly Shermanesque

The gold standard for ruling out a presidential run remains William Tecumseh Sherman's refusal to run in 1884, when he said he would not accept his party's nomination and would not serve as president if elected.

Cuomo's statement similarly left little room for interpretation.

Debate moderator Maurice DuBois asked Cuomo whether he can promise New York voters that he would serve a full four-year term and not run for president in 2020 if he wins this November.

"Yes," Cuomo said. "Yes, yes and yes. Double yes."

2) There was one caveat

When DuBois followed up with Cuomo, the Democratic governor allowed for one exception.

"The only caveat," Cuomo said as the crowd groaned, "is if God strikes me dead. Otherwise, I will serve four years as governor of the state of New York."

3) Cuomo hadn't been so definitive before

Cuomo had most recently been asked about his presidential ambitions on August 17 during a conference call with reporters.

Gillibrand was No. 6, while Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders took the top spot.

5) Cuomo's facing challenges in September and November

Cuomo is facing a Sept. 13 primary challenge from fellow Democrat Cynthia Nixon, the Sex and the City actor who is challenging the governor from the left.

Should he win, he would face Republican Marc Molinaro in the November election along with a host of third-party candidates, including Howie Hawkins of the Green Party, Larry Sharpe of the Libertarian Party and Stephanie Miner on the Serve America Movement line.

Nixon, meanwhile, could choose to stay in the November race on the Working Families Party line should she lose.